Year in Running 2016

I find it a valuable and meaningful a process to reflect on a year past – perhaps even more valuable than setting goals for the upcoming year. You never know the ups and downs that a year will bring. While I truly enjoy setting goals, I find that at the end of the year, the best experiences are those which weren’t goals that I set or could have even dreamed of setting. 

I love doing these Year in Running reviews (you can see my 2014 and 2015 reviews), so I’m linking up with Eat Pray Run DC for Year in Running 2016!

Best Race Experience

I really enjoyed all the races I did this year, but the California International Marathon was my best race experience. I ran a negative split in a marathon on my way to qualifying for Boston. I felt strong and enjoyed the race. The whole experience still feels almost surreal to me and I still can’t quite comprehend that I ran a 3:31 marathon. I’m still riding on a post-race high.

Best Run

That’s a hard question! Assuming this means a run outside of a race setting, I would have to say the Thanksgiving run with Ryan and Ollie. We just went out there in the pouring rain and had fun running together! I love running with my boys.

I also enjoyed every step of the shakeout run at the Rise.Run.Retreat. I’m an introvert, but running serves as a great icebreaker and an easy starting point for friendship.

 

Best New Piece of Running Gear

This was hard, because I really, really like gear!

Tuff Mutt Hands-Free Dog Leash makes running with the dogs so much easier and safer. I originally resisted the notion of a hands for a couple years, but now I use it for even regular walks. Charlie and Ollie love running so much, and this leash makes those miles even more fun for both of us. (Because I would never run both dogs at once – even with a waist leash!)

(Not a new piece of gear, but this Saucony reflective jacket from 2014 is one of my favorite pieces each winter.)

Gear Well EnduraPouch made fueling during my marathon training and racing so much easier and less messy. I left my emergency gel (which I took one sip of) in my pocket after I finished everywhere, and it exploded into a giant sticky mess. In contrast, I dropped one of the pouch caps early on during the race – yet even without the cap, the full pouch didn’t spill gel all over me.

Best Piece of Advice You Received This Year

You know what you are doing. Just run. Susie from Suzlyfe said this to me a few days before CIM and these words stuck with me. That’s the art of letting go and running intuitively, summed up into a few sage words. 

 

Most Inspirational Runner

I can’t choose just one runner for this, since so many of my fellow runners inspire me in many different ways. Each of the women on the Rise.Run.Retreat inspire me to become a better runner. Each runner has been through her own peaks and valleys of training (some literally, with their impressive mountain and trail racing) and trains with grit, resilience, and passion. Their accomplishments encourage me to dream a little bigger in my running goals.

Favorite Picture from a Run or Race This Year

This photo from CIM is my favorite because I’m actually smiling (and not grimacing while thinking that I’m smiling). It captures that joy I find in running and pushing my physical and mental limits.

Race Experience You Would Repeat

The California International Marathon. The course, the weather, my pacing, my mental game, my nutrition – everything aligned for that marathon. I ran CIM seeking redemption from Portland, but I found more than redemption: I discovered that I really, really enjoy the marathon.

If You Could Sum Up the Year in a Few Words, What Would They Be?

If I could summarize 2016 in one word, it would be breakthrough.

2016 was a year of breakthrough training cycles and races. I ran a 5 minute PR and broke 1:40 in the half marathon in March. I overcame my fear of hilly races at Leaf Peeper. I qualified for Boston and took 18 minutes off my marathon time at CIM. I improved my fueling and hydration, learned to run by perceived effort, and made so many new friendships through running.

[Tweet “Year of Running 2016: Breakthrough via @thisrunrecipes #running”]

How was your year in running?
What word would you use to describe your year?